Mount Maunganui Slip Update: Deaths, Recovery & Reopening

The morning of January 22, 2026 began like any other summer morning at Mount Maunganui, with holidaymakers enjoying the coast and walkers heading up Mauao’s tracks. By 9:30am, six people were dead and New Zealand had recorded its deadliest weather event of the year. What followed was an 11-day recovery operation that concluded on February 1, 2026.

Deaths: 6 ·
Landslides: 42 ·
Recovery End: Feb 1, 2026 ·
Missing: 0 (operations concluded) ·
Location: Mauao above Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park

Key facts about the January 2026 Mauao landslide are compiled in the table below.

What caused the Mount Maunganui slip?

The disaster struck after an extraordinary rainfall event. Tauranga received 274mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on January 22, 2026—equivalent to two and a half months of typical rainfall. Of that, 198mm fell in just the 12 hours to 6am that morning, according to Debbie McCauley Author (documenting natural heritage events).

Witness accounts

The landslide hit the Beachside Holiday Park at 9:29-9:30am, described by witnesses as a wall of mud and rock. A State of Local Emergency had already been declared for the entire Bay of Plenty region at 12:42pm the previous day, but nothing prepared campers for what came next.

Official investigations

A government inquiry has been launched to examine the causes of the landslide. Mauao now has 42 identified landslides, including 12 classified as severe, according to Newsbeat (Tauranga City Council).

How many people died in the Mount Maunganui landslide?

Six people died when the landslide struck the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park on January 22, 2026. The victims included teenagers, a school tutor, a Swedish tourist, a grandmother, and a 10-year-old grandson, according to NZ Herald (New Zealand’s major news outlet).

Victim count

The death toll of six makes this the deadliest single landslide event in New Zealand’s recent history. All six victims were formally identified by police.

Full list of victims

The sixth and final victim, Jackie Wheeler, 71 years old from Roto Roua, was formally identified on February 1, 2026. Susan Nolles, a friend of Jackie Wheeler, was also killed in the landslide and identified the same day, according to YouTube (Police/Media).

Are any bodies recovered from Mt Maunganui slip?

Yes. Recovery operations concluded on February 1, 2026, after all six victims were formally identified. Police stood down all recovery operations at Mount Maunganui on that date, according to Tauranga City Council (official government source).

Recovery operations

Fire and Emergency New Zealand formally handed over the recovery operation to police at 11:20am on January 24, 2026. Police used hundreds of specialised staff across multiple workgroups, with officers travelling from several districts to assist, according to 1News New Zealand (public broadcaster).

Human remains found

Human remains were found during the night of January 23, 2026 at the landslide site. Assistant National Commander David Guard stated that day that the operation would continue until the search was complete. The recovery was paused on January 26 due to concerns about another slip and a crack discovered on the Mount—geotechnical experts were consulted before work resumed.

How many people are still missing in Mount Maunganui landslide?

Zero. All six people reported missing following the landslide have been accounted for. Operations concluded on February 1, 2026, with no one remaining unaccounted for.

Missing persons update

Police indicated early in the operation that recovery could last many days and possibly extend to weeks. Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Tim Anderson stated police did not have a timeline on when recovery work would be complete, according to 1News New Zealand.

Search suspension

The operation paused briefly on January 26 when a crack was discovered on the mountain, raising fears of another landslide. Work resumed after geotechnical assessment gave the all-clear. Charlie Tawhio of Ngāi Te Rangi noted that iwi support was providing cultural and spiritual support to recovery workers throughout.

Is the Mount Maunganui base track open?

No. Mauao remains closed while recovery and remediation work continues, with safety as the overriding consideration, according to Newsbeat (Tauranga City Council).

Track status

The Base Track at Mauao cannot safely be reopened early in the recovery process. Physical remediation work was due to start in the coming weeks as of April 20, 2026.

Alternative walks

Summit access to Mauao is expected to be easier to restore than the Base Track, but no confirmed reopening date has been set. Reopening will be staged and evidence-based, guided by specialist geotechnical advice. Tauranga City Council and the Mauao Trust established a partnership called Ngā Poutiriāo ō Mauao for joint decision-making on reopening.

Timeline of the Mount Maunganui landslide

Six key moments that shaped the disaster response.

What we know vs what remains unclear

The facts around Mauao’s January 2026 landslide are well-documented, but important questions remain unanswered.

Expert perspectives

“The sound of mayhem” — Eyewitness describing the moment the landslide hit

“The operation would continue until the search was complete” — Assistant National Commander David Guard, January 23, 2026

“Safety as the overriding consideration” — Tauranga City Council, April 2026 update on Mauao reopening

Police staff from several districts travelled to Mount Maunganui to assist with the recovery operation, which drew on hundreds of specialised personnel across multiple workgroups. Iwi support through Ngāi Te Rangi provided cultural and spiritual assistance to recovery workers throughout the operation.

Summary

The Mauao landslide claimed six lives on January 22, 2026, after extreme rainfall—274mm in 24 hours—destabilised the iconic Tauranga peak. Recovery operations ran for 11 days before concluding February 1, with all victims formally identified. For hikers and residents awaiting Mauao’s reopening, the wait continues: 42 identified landslide scars require remediation, the base track remains unsafe, and no reopening timeline exists. A government inquiry may eventually explain why this happened, but the immediate future belongs to contractors and geotechnical specialists whose remediation work will determine when Mauao can safely welcome visitors again.

Related reading: Mount Maunganui Surf Report · Tauranga Airport Flight Updates

As recovery from the tragic slip concludes and the base track remains closed, Mount Maunganui eyes the Black Clash 2026 teams set for Bay Oval on January 17.

Frequently asked questions